Method of preparing body blanks for tearing strip containers



Jan. 4, 1938. 2,104,037

METHOD OF PREPARING BODY BLANKS FOR TEARING STRIP CONTAINERS J. M. HOTHERSALL 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fil ed June s, 1936 r lllu'llIl-llL .l-lIL R r W TTORNE 2 ,5 v, BY

Jan; 4, 1938 J. M. HOTHERSALL 2,104,037

METHOD OF PREPARING BODY BLANKS FOR TEABING STRIP CONTAINERS Filed June 3, 1936 V 5 sheets-sheet 2 Jan. 4, 1938. J. HOTHERSALL 2,104,037 METHOD OF'PREPARING BCDY BLANKS FOR TEARING STRIP CONTAINERS Fil'ed June 5, 1936 :5 Sheets-Shed; s

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ATTORNEYS Patente d Jan. 4, 1938 UNITED-STATES PA ENT OFFICE METHOD OF PREPARiNG BODY BLANKS4 I FOB, TEABING STRIP CONTAINERS John M. Hothersall, Brooklyn, N. ;Y., assignorto V :Americaen Can, Company, New York iN. Y., a

corporation of New Jersey 'Application June a, 1936, Serial'No. 83,379 r 9 Claims. (011113-15 28368: filed June 5; 1935, on container,- I

An object of the invention is the provision of a 1 1 method of preparing blanks from which the bodies of key opening tearing strip cans are made 7 wherein the tongue for removing the tearing strip is formed in an edge of thefblank so that smaller body blanks may be used with a result 15 ant saving in container cost. j

Another object is the provision of such a method ofpreparing body blanks for tearing strip cans wherein the tongue part is formed adjacent an end of the tearing strip which is defined by score lines in the body wall, the tongue being made effective for engagement withanop'ening key by bending it from'itsinitial position in the ,blank to an extended position beyond the end of thetearing strip and in longitudinal alignment 1 with the'latter. q f Numerous other objects and advantages ofthe invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which;taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

3 discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1" is a perspective View of a tearing strip can having a body made from a blank prepared in accordance with the method of the'instant in- 35 vention, parts of the container being broken away; I I V Fig. 2 is asectional ffragmentaryview on an enlarged scale taken just above the completely formed tearing strip tongue as viewed substan- 40 tially along the line 22 in Fig. '1;

Figs. 3, 4', and 5 are corner fragments of a body blank illustrating the position of the tongue sections relative to the tearing strip in three different stages of its construction;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of the tongue constructionin an intermediatestage as viewed sub stantially along the line 6-45 in Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a similar view showing the formation 6 of the tongue following thetongue bending oper ation, this view being a section taken substantially along the line '!,'l in Fig. 5; I

Fig. ,8 is a fragmentary top plan view ofone form of apparatus for carrying out the method steps of the instant invention, the viewillustrating blanks, with sections broken away, in different stages of preparation; g

Fig. -9 is an enlarged sectional detail of die inembers'usedin cutting theblank to form the tongue, the view being taken substantially along '5 the line 9-9 in Fig.8;

Fig. fl0f is an enlarged, top plan view of the tongue bending mechanism illustratednear the centero'f Fig. 8 as the-second stage of preparation, the top of the mechanism being removed; 10

Figs. 11, 12, and 13 are sectional detailsillustrating different positions of'the movable element of the tongue bending mechanism, Fig. 11 being a view taken substantially along the line H-ll in Fig. 1( while Figs. 12 and 13 are en- 15 larged views takensubstantially along the re-. spective lines E2 42 and 13-43 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional detail of one form of tongue folding device, the view being taken substantially along the line l4l4 in Fig. 8; V Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the tongue bending mechanism illustrated in Fig. 10, as observed from a position at right angles to the plan view and illustrating the tongue at the completion of the bending operation; and

Figs. 16, 1'7, and 18 are enlarged sectional details of the tongue folding. devices shown in Fig. 8, the views being taken substantially along the line I 8-48 in that figure and illustrating the 3Q movable. parts in different positions during. the folding ofthe tongue against the blank, Fig. 18 showing the tongue bentlso that it will not interfere with subsequent handling of the blank.

Q As a preferred embodiment of the present inv ention the drawings disclose a method of preparing the body blank for a tearing strip can of the character such as, for example, the one disclosed in my pending United States application hereinbefore mentioned. The can is pro- 40 vided with a tearing strip which encircles the can body being formed with an integral key engaging tongue which extends beyond the edge of the can sideseam. Prior to the utilization of the instant invention such a can required an extended body blank long enough to include the longitudinal dimension of the tongue. Hence a great deal of the edge of the blank had to be be extended along the edge with some or all of 5 5 its shorter or width, dimensionextending out from the blank edge instead of projecting longitudinally beyond. The tongue is form'ed pref erably entirely inside of the adjacent edge of the blank and is partially severed as it remains in position with its longitudinal dimension extending adjacent the blank edge; In other'W-ords it is at anangle to the tearing strip instead of longitudinal thereof but it is also integral therewith.

The tearing strip is preferably formed'in the body blank wall by score lines which extend from one end of the tongue part longitudinally across the body blank. The tongue part is bent or ro 'tated from its blanked position into; a longitudinal relation to the tearing strip so that it projects beyond the edge of the blank. 'While in this projected position, the tongue is folded or and just beneath the cover l3 and may be united with the body wallin any suitable manner as by cooperating beads I6 formed in body and collar.

Such a collar backs up the tearing strip (indicated by the numeral I8) which preferably encircles the body'and extends from'one edge of a side seam l9 around the body wall and back to the other edge of.the seam. It also provides a seat for the cover when the latter is used as a reclosure for the can after opening and after the tearing strip has been removed.

A tearing strip tongue 2| is formed as gral part of the body wall and projects beyond a lapped section 22 of the side seam I9. This tongue isadapted to be engaged by a key 20 for removing the tearing strip as when opening the can. A look section 23 is also formed in the side seam I9 and extends below the end of the lap section 22. Within the bottom seam I4 the side seam has another lapped section 24.

The body I l of the can is formedfrom a blank A portions of which are shown in the various figures of the drawings. Only the tongue end of the blank isshown since it is this end which is acted upon. It is to the method'of preparing this portion of the blank that thepresent inven-.'

tion is particularly directed.

The tearing strip I8 is first formed in the blank A in any suitable or usual manner as by partially cutting through or scoring the blank lengthwise and at right angles to the tongue edge in a pair of spaced and parallel score lines 29, 3|. The score linesdo not extend to the tongue edge of the blank but terminate 'a pre-. determined distance away to join the tearing strip edge with the tongue 2|.

The tongue 2| is next bent from its blank enclosed position and is brought into longitudinal alignment relative to the tearing strip IS. The principal parts of one form of apparatus for doing this is illustrated in the drawings and'includes a horizontal table 32 (Figs. 8 to 18, inclusive) along which the fiat blanks A are movedhorizontally by any suitable means such as a reciprocable feed bar 33 having spaced feed dogs 34. The feed bar is carried in a groove 35 formed in the table. Movement of the feed bar in a for ward direction (to the right as viewed in Fig. 8)

' for the side seam. an 1nte-.

V successively advances a 'blank A first to a tongue cutting and notching station B, then to a tongue bending station C and hence to a tongue folding station D from which the blank may bedischarged to any, suitable place of deposit.

At the cutting station 3 a marginal portion of the blank A is cut away or notched out as shown in Fig. 3 this being adjacent the short edge now being consideredwhich is contiguous with one end of the tearing strip I8. This cutting action provides a notch 31 having its vertex extending into the terminal end of the score line 29. The

score lines 29, 3| are indicated in the drawings and in the description as having been made in the blank-prior to the cutting or notching just described but it will "be understood that equally satisfactory results may be obtained by scoring or defining the tearing strip after the cutting and notching action. I

At the tim'e of notching the tongue 21 is set off or. formed inthe blank A preferably by a short line of severance 38 (Fig. 3) and along line of cutv39 joined to the short line in a sharp located diagonally across from the rounded corner 40 of the severed line 39. This notch 42 sets off a flexing'section in the tongue extending between the vertex of thenotch and the rounded corner 40 and along which the tongue is later bent. The corners of the blank are cut away to provide the usual notches 43,144 (Figs. 3 and 8) This severing of the marginal edge portion of the blank A is effected in any suitable manner as by means of cooperating upper and lower die members 45, 46 (Figs. 8 and 9) which are supported on the table 32. These die memmrs are provided'with upper and lower cutting edges 41, 48. which cooperate in cutting through the wall of the blank at the proper places, cutting out the notches and severing thetongue along the desired lines while leaving it in place within the plane of the blank. A spring mounted yielding plate 49 disposed in a recess 5| of the lower die member 46 supports the tongue during this severing operation.

After the blank A has thusbeen notched and the tongue 2| formed, the blank'is advanced to the station C (Figs. 8, 10, ll, 12, 13, and 15). Here the tongue is bentalong its flexingsection defined by the notch 42, the tongue being thereupon displaced out of the plane of the blank.

In this displacement it is rotated by being bent 6) is formed in the tongue by this bending move- This positioning of the tongue 2| is effected by a suitable bending device 55 which includes a block 56 (Fig. 15) set into a recess 51 formed in the top of the table 32 at an angle of substantia'lliy 45 degrees with the edge of a positioned blank. The top of the block extends above the top of'the table and at its forward end it is cut away as at 58 flush with the table topto permit advancing blanks to pass over it. Its sides are cut back in wedge fashion as at 59 to provide clearance for the passing of the blank on one side and for the bending of the tongue on. the other.

The block is formed with a longitudinal horizontal bore 62 having its central axis flush and parallel with the top of the table. A cylindrical bending element 63 is located in the bore and is rocked or partially rotated periodically in any suitable manner. The forwardend of the bendingl element is cut away on an angle as at 65 (Fig. providing 'a flat shelf part 66 which,

when the element is in one position, is flush with the top of the table. This also permits passage of the blank over it.

A finger projection 61' (Fig. 13) of the shelf 86 extends under the tongue 2 I adjacent its flexing section and this projection extends into a recess 68 formed in the end of the block 56. Rotation of the'bending element 63 lifts theprojection 61 as the bendingelement moves on its axis and the projectio'n engaging thetongue 2| moves it out of the plane of the blank. This movement of the projection forces the tongue against a tapered face II of an anvil 12 (-Fig; 12) which is disposed over the top of the blank adjacent the flat top 58- of the block 56. The anvil is set at an angle of substantially 45 degrees, with the lower edge of its tapered face in alignment with the flexing section of the tongue as shown in Fig. 10 so that the tongue will be bent along this line.

. During thisbending of the tongue 2|, the top surface of the latter is wiped against the bottom of an overhanging plate 14 as shown in Fig. 12. The plate is vertically spaced above the top of the positioned blank and is secured to the top of the block 56. It is to the bottom of the overhanging end of this plate that the anvil T2 is secured. At the forward end of the plate its bottom surface curves downwardly as at 18 (Fig. 13) and extends shown in Figs, 12 and 13. It is this curved surface 16 andthe bending action of the finger projection 61 that forms the loop 53 in the tongue.

The plate prevents the tongue from being lifted straight up while it is being bent, and during the wiping action keeps the tongue substantially horizontal. This wiping action in effect rotates the tongue horizontally through an angle of substantially 90 degrees, the while slightly lifting it from its original position shown in Fig. 10 into a position in longitudinal alignment with the tearing strip I8 as shown in Fig. 15.

The finger projection 61 returns to its position within the recess 68 and the blank A is moved to the next or tongue folding station D (Figs. 8, 14, 16, 1'7, and 18). At this station the loop part 53 (Fig. 6) of the bent tongue 2! is pressed down and folded, bringing the tongue into tight fitting engagement against the tearing strip l8 as shown in Figs. 5 and 7. At the same time the part of the tongue which extends beyond the edge of the blank is preferably bent down as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 7 so that it will be out of the way during handling of the blank for subsequent operations thereon.

The folding of the tongue loop 53 is effecte by any suitable mechanism, for example, a mechanis'm comprising upper and; lower die-members 81, 82 illustrated inpart in Figs. 16, 17, and 1 8 of the drawings. The lower die. member'BZ: is stationary and is seated in a recess 83 formed in the table 32 with its top surface flush with the top of the table. One end of the lower die member extends under the tearing'strip ill of the blank and supports the latter during the folding action. .1

The upper die member BI is vertically movable and is provided with a stepped section 85 having a hammer nose 86 which when themember is lowered is brought into contact with the tongue loop 53. This presses or folds it flat against the tearing strip id as shown in Fig. 17. A projecting guide block 81 formed integrally with the hammer'noseengages the side of the tongue and holds it against shifting, from its alignedposition with the tearing strip, While the loop is being. folded. A clearance recess 88 formed in the table 32 adjacent the stationary die member 82, permits the guide block to descend below the top of the table while the tongue is being folded.

the member 89 and the tongue after bending extends down into the clearance recess 88 while the hammer nose 8% of the die member 8! holds the folded section of the tongue against displace ment.

The lower die member 82 serves as' an anvil for this operation. An edge of the die member extends into the recess iiiland terminates adjacent the edge of the blank. The blank is dis charged from station Dand may be conveyed from the table 32 to any suitable placeof de posit. A groove 95 in the table and communicating with the recess 88 provides clearance'space for the turned down tongue as the blank is moved along this part of the table.

By constructing a tongue in this manner a great deal of material is saved in the blank whichneed only be large enough to form the desiredl's'ize of body. Where the tongue is entirely inside of the blank edge the lock seam section 23 of the body determines the over-all dimension of the blank. Since the tongue is extended beyond the edge of the body at the lap section 22, the

tongue width in the preferred form as described comes out of a blank part about equal to that forming the hook of the lock seam section 23 and consequently a much smaller blank produces the same size of can.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the steps of the process described and their order of accomplishment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the process hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. The method of preparing a container body blank having a removable tearing strip, which comprises forming a tongue in said blank which v is integral with a tearing strip formed in the blank, said tongue being disposed at an angle to the tearing strip, and bending the tongue into longitudinal alignment with the tearing strip. 7

2. The method of preparing a container body blank having a removable tearing strip, which comprises cutting a line of severance in said blank to define a tongue integral with a tearing strip formed in the blank, said tongue being disposed at an angle to the tearing strip, and bending the tongue into longitudinal alignment with the tearing strip. 7

3. The method of preparing a container body blank having a removable tearing strip, which 7 comprises cutting a line of severance in said blank to define a tongue which is integral with a tearing strip formed in the blank, said tongue being disposed at an angle to the tearing strip and confined within the marginal edges of the blank, and bending the tongue into longitudinal alignment with the tearing strip. V

4. The method of preparing a container body blank having a tearing strip, which comprises forming a tongue in said blank which is integral with a tearing strip formed in the blank, said tongue being disposed at an angle to the tearing strip, bending the tongue out of the plane of the blank by moving its free end about an axis and into a position with its longitudinal center line substantially parallel withrthe longitudinal center line of the tearing strip, and pressing the tongue into engagement with the tearing strip the while forming a folded portion of the tongue at the junction of tongue and tearing strip.

The method of preparing a container body blank having a tearing strip, which comprises forming a tongue in said blank which is integral with a tearing strip formed in the blank, said tongue being disposed at an angle to the tearing strip, bending the tongue out of the plane of the blank by moving its free end about an axis while forming a loop in the tongue and bringing it into a position with itslongitudinal center line substantially parallel with the longitudinal center' line of the tearing strip, pressing the tongue into engagement with the tearing strip, and holding said tongue in a line of movement during the pressing action to form a folded portion of the tongue at the junction of tongue and tearing strip.

6. The method of preparing a container body blank having a tearing strip, which comprises forming a tongue in said blank which is integral with a tearing strip contained within the blank, said tongue being disposed at an angle to the tearing strip, bending the tongue into longitudinal alignment with the tearing strip so that a portion of the tongue overlaps and engages the same and the remainder of the tongue projects'beyond the edge of the blank, holding said engaging portion of said tongue, and bending the said remainder at an angle to facilitate further handling of the blank during subsequent operations thereon.

7. The method of preparing a container body blank having a removable tearing strip, which comprises forming a tongue in said blank which is integral with a tearing strip formed in the blank, said tongue being disposed at an angle to the tearing strip, notching said tongue to provide a flexing section therein, and bending the tongue along said flexing section as an axis and into longitudinal alignment With the tearing strip.

8. The method of preparing a'container body blank having a tearing strip,'which comprises forming a tongue in said blank which is integral with a tearing strip formed in the blank, said tongue being disposed at an angle to the tearing strip, notching said tongue 'to provide a flexing section therein, displacing said tongue out of the plane of the blank by bending it along an axis and simultaneously rotating it toa plane substantially parallel with the plane of the blank and into centralized longitudinal alignment with the tearing strip so that a portion of the tongue overlaps the tearing strip, and folding said tongue at said flexing section and into engagement'with said tearing strip the while maintaining the alignment and centralized position of the tongue relative to the tearing strip.

9. The method of preparing a container body blank having a removable tearing strip, which comprises notching a marginal edge of said blank as an incident 'to the preparation of a side seam, forming a tongue along said notched marginal edge which is integral with a tearing strip formed in the blank, said tongue being disposed at an angle to the tearing strip, and bending thetongue into longitudinal alignment with the tearing strip.

JOHN M. HO'THERSALL. 

